The Jharkhand government held another round of talks with student representatives on Sunday as protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations entered their 16th day. The fresh discussions came amid growing concern over the health of student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for around a week.
Mahto’s condition deteriorated around 3 am on Sunday, with doctors recording his blood glucose level at 53. Another student on hunger strike, Rahul Krantim, is under medical supervision at Sadar Hospital’s intensive care unit. Six protesters are currently observing an indefinite fast at the protest site at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi.
The latest round of talks followed a series of meetings between the government and different student groups on Friday and Saturday. The discussions, however, failed to produce a breakthrough on the protesters’ key demands.
The government had held separate meetings with student organisations including the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, the Congress-backed NSUI, Jharkhand Chhatra Morcha (JCM) and Adivasi Chhatra Sangh (ACS). It subsequently decided to hold another round of talks with student representatives on Sunday.
The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, which has been leading the agitation, criticised the government's decision to hold separate discussions with different groups, calling it “political manoeuvring”. Its leaders alleged that the move was aimed at creating divisions among protesting students and diverting attention from their core demands.
The government, however, said the discussions had been positive and that it was examining the concerns raised by the students. Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar also urged aspirants to submit their suggestions on recruitment reforms through a dedicated email address.
The protesters have demanded cancellation of examinations in which irregularities are alleged, investigations into the recruitment process, disclosure of examination-related records and greater transparency in future recruitment.
The JCM has demanded cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination, while the NSUI has sought a CID probe into JPSC and JSSC examinations under suspicion and the creation of a Jharkhand Testing Agency on the lines of the National Testing Agency.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders, including Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Jharkhand BJP chief Aditya Sahu and party chief whip Naveen Jaiswal, visited the protesters on Sunday. Seth backed the demand for cancellation of the examination and a CBI probe.
The protesters have said the agitation will continue until a concrete decision is taken and have announced a march towards the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10 if their demands are not addressed.
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